Your IP address is the number your internet provider assigns to your home network so websites and services know where to send information back to you

Think of it like a mailing address for your devices. When you visit a website, that site needs to know where to send the web page back to — your IP address tells it. Your internet provider gives this number to your home router, and every device connected to that router shares it when talking to the outside world. You have two IP addresses that matter: the one your provider assigns (your public IP), and the one your router assigns to each device inside your home (your private IP). Most of the time you do not need to know either one. But if you are setting up a device, troubleshooting a connection problem, or trying to understand why a website sees you as being in a different location, knowing how to find it takes two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is the same for all devices in your home; you can find it by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.
  • Your private IP address is assigned by your router to each individual device and is only used inside your home network; it usually starts with 192.168 or 10.
  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your private IP; on Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type ifconfig.
  • On a phone or tablet, go to Settings, find Wi-Fi or Network, tap the network you are connected to, and look for an IP address field.
  • Your IP address changes when your internet provider restarts your modem, but you can request a static IP if you need it to stay the same for a specific reason.

Finding your public IP address in a web browser

Your public IP is the easiest one to find because you do not need to open any special programs. Open any web browser — Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox — and search for the phrase what is my IP. Within seconds, a website will display a number like 203.45.67.89. That is your public IP address. Write it down if you need it, but know that it will change eventually. Your internet provider may reassign it when your modem restarts, when you restart it yourself, or after a set number of days.

This public IP is what the outside world sees when you visit a website or use an online service. If you are troubleshooting a connection problem with a service that says "your IP is blocked" or "your IP is not allowed", this is the number to check. Some websites also use your public IP to guess your location — which is why a website might think you are in a different city than you actually are. The location is usually close but not exact.

Finding your private IP address on Windows

Your private IP is the address your router assigns to one specific device. You need this if you are setting up port forwarding, connecting to a printer on your network, or troubleshooting why one device cannot reach another. On Windows, the fastest way is through Command Prompt. Press the Windows key and type cmd, then press Enter. A black window will open.

Type the word ipconfig and press Enter. You will see a list of information. Look for the section labeled "Ethernet" if your computer is plugged in with a cable, or "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi" if you are using Wi-Fi. Find the line that says IPv4 Address. The number next to it — usually something like 192.168.1.50 — is your private IP. Close the Command Prompt window when you are done. This number only works inside your home network; the outside world cannot reach your device using this address.

Finding your private IP address on Mac or Linux

On a Mac, open the Terminal process. You can find it by pressing Command and Space, typing terminal, and pressing Enter. Type the command ifconfig and press Enter. You will see several sections of information. Look for the section that starts with en0 (for Ethernet) or en1 (for Wi-Fi). Find the line that says inet followed by a number. That number is your private IP address.

On Linux, open a terminal window and type the same command: ifconfig. The layout is similar to Mac. Find your active network connection — usually labeled eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi — and look for the inet line. The number there is your private IP. If ifconfig does not work, try hostname -I instead, which will display just the IP address with no other information.

Finding your IP address on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then tap Wi-Fi. Find the network you are currently connected to and tap the information icon (a small circle with an "i" inside). Scroll down and you will see a field labeled IP Address. That is your private IP on that network. If you need your public IP on your phone, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" just as you would on a computer.

On an Android phone, go to Settings and search for "IP address" using the search bar at the top. You should see your private IP listed when ready. If that does not work, go to Settings, then About Phone, then Status. Look for the field labeled IP Address. Again, this is your private IP — the one your router assigned to your phone. To find your public IP, use a web browser and search for "what is my IP".

Understanding the difference between public and private IP addresses

Your public IP is assigned by your internet provider and is visible to every website and service you connect to. It is the same for all devices in your home. Your private IP is assigned by your router and is different for each device. It starts with 192.168, 10, or 172.16 — these ranges are reserved for home networks and cannot be used on the public internet. This separation exists for security: devices on your home network can find each other using private IPs, but the outside world cannot reach them directly.

When you send a request to a website, your router translates your private IP into your public IP so the website knows where to send the response back. This process is called Network Address Translation, or NAT. You do not need to understand how it works, but it is why your private IP stays hidden from the outside world. If someone on the internet tries to reach your device, they cannot do it using your private IP — they would need your public IP and your router would have to be configured to allow that connection, which it is not by default.

When you might need to know your IP address

Most people never need to know their IP address. But there are a few situations where it becomes useful. If a website or online service tells you that your IP is blocked or restricted, you can check your public IP to confirm what the service is seeing. If you are setting up a device like a printer or security camera on your home network, you may need to enter its private IP address into your browser to reach its settings page. If you are troubleshooting a connection problem with technical support, they may ask for your public IP to check their logs.

Some people also request a static IP address from their internet provider — one that does not change — if they run a home server or need a device to always be reachable at the same address. This usually costs extra and requires contacting your provider directly. For most home uses, a changing IP address causes no problems at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address change?

Your internet provider assigns IP addresses temporarily, not permanently. When your modem restarts — whether you restart it, the power goes out, or the provider does maintenance — you get a new public IP. This is normal and expected. If you need the same IP address all the time, contact your provider about a static IP option.

Is my IP address the same as my Wi-Fi password?

No. Your Wi-Fi password is what you type to connect to your router. Your IP address is a number your router assigns to your device after you connect. They are completely separate. Knowing someone's IP address does not let them connect to your Wi-Fi.

Can someone find my home address from my IP address?

Not exactly. Your IP address is registered to your internet provider, and your provider knows your billing address. But websites and services cannot look that up — they only see the IP address itself. They can make a rough guess about your city or region, which is why some websites think you are in a different location than you actually are, but they cannot determine your street address from the IP alone.

What if two devices have the same IP address?

This should not happen on your home network because your router assigns a different private IP to each device. If it does happen, one or both devices will lose internet connection. Restart your router and the affected devices, and they should get new addresses. If the problem continues, restart the device that is having trouble and wait a few minutes before reconnecting.

Do I need to hide my IP address?

For normal home use, no. Your public IP is visible to every website you visit, but that is how the internet works — websites need to know where to send information back to you. If you are concerned about privacy, a VPN service can hide your IP, but it is not necessary for basic security or safety.